Sign Up
for the

Miami Heat 2013 Player Profile: Norris Cole


cole

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

As Norris Cole will be entering his third season with the Miami Heat, he has become a vital member of their team. Cole’s career averages are nothing to boast about with his 6.1 points, two assists and 1.6 rebounds per game. But this first round pick out of Cleveland State shows up when his teammates need him the most, in the playoffs.

In last season’s playoff run to the NBA Finals, Cole shot an unheard of 53 percent from three-point land, helping the Heat win their second consecutive title. His most impressive showing came in games two and three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Chicago Bulls, in which Cole dropped back-to-back 18 point performances, shooting 100 percent from three, and helping Miami take back home court advantage.

Cole is definitely one of the most underrated players on this roster of all-stars. In his final season at Cleveland State, he averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game. If Mario Chalmers isn’t careful, he could lose some minutes to this up-and-coming star. But if Erik Spoelstra doesn’t give Cole the minutes he deserves, we might see him as a starting point guard for another NBA team.

In today’s physical game it’s absolutely necessary to have a solid bench to back up your starters. Cole is a key player to the Heat roster, and the definition of a hard-nosed point guard. Although he may be short in stature, you better not count out the heart of this young man, or he’ll make you pay on both ends of the court.


Around the Web

ZergNet
Partner with USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties